Top 5: Hands-on with Nikon D500

Top 5: Hands-on with Nikon D500

CES 2016 has turned into a big event for Nikon thanks to the release of the company's new D500 and D5 DSLRs. We were able to get some hands-on time with both cameras, and it's fair to say that we're impressed with what we've seen so far.

Fans of Nikon's performance-oriented APS-C cameras have been imploring the company for years to release an update to the well regarded D300s. (OK, maybe 'imploring' is the wrong word - shouting, demanding, and even begging may be more accurate.) The wait is finally over, and Nikon has come through with the long anticipated D500, a camera sure to appeal to those who have waited so long.

Comments

The D500 is a great camera for sports and wildlife shooters. For landscape/people shooters, the hope is that some of the new features will trickle down to the D7200 successor. For my purposes, I don't want to make the sacrifice of a lower MPix count in order to boost the shutter rate. Although I rarely use it, it's nice to have a fill-in flash available when you're not packing your external flash. But, the main feature that I'd like to see on the D7200 successor is the tilt-able LCD screen; it would eliminate some contortions that I am forced to make when shooting low to the ground.

If it wasn't for the cost of selling DX lenses and then buying the equivalent FX lenses, I would upgrade to a D750 based on it's current pricing.

You talked a lot about Mpix,May I know how BIG you print your pictures all this time ?

Or do they just stored in a hard drive and showed on a nice retina displays ?

If you are Mpix maniac, why don't you go medium format, large format with bigger sensors, why discuss all the nonsense about BIGGER Mpix in a DSLR while you have far better option with bigger sensors ?

brownieOr both! D5500 is still the DXO record holder for ISO in APSC, has 14 stops DR and a full tilt&swivel touchscreen that actually operates the camera, not so in the D500 BTW. And it's tiny. If you don't have legacy lenses it would be my first buy.

I already have a D7100. One thing that I don't want to do is take a big step backwards in terms of external buttons/controls to a D5500. I don't want to have to go to the menu system to change settings that now have dedicated buttons.

How big do I print picture now isn't this issue. It's why take a step backwards in MPix when there is always the possibility of creating larger photos. If I have a greater resolution, I have the option to print larger photos at anytime in the future; with less, I never have that option.

I don't need to upgrade today; I'm happy with my D7100 with the exception of the need for a tilt-able screen. Of course, I wouldn't mind a greater FPS rate and buffer, but those aren't my highest priority in the next camera that I purchase..

@photomedium: The D5500 doesn't have focus fine tune which is a deal killer for a lot of us. It might have everything else but without the possibility to fine tune focus with specific lenses it's a seriously crippled camera IMHO.

Let's not forget that Nikon started this segment with the D90 but have continued with missteps when it comes to listening to this consumer base. As I said, along with my Nikon cameras I also own a Sony a7s. I only shoot stills on my Nikon and while I'm sure they have improved ISO sensitivity, Nikon should have come to the market with 10bit/4.2.2 video. It's not like they would have been stealing sales from their pro video segment and competing with their own products like Sony, and Canon have to be concerned about.

Furthermore, if the specs are correct and and you have to use these outrageous crop factors to produce 4K video, then they have lost their minds! I have been shooting with Nikon's for over 40 years, and I have collected a lot of Nikon glass. They work just fine with my Sony. I am doing a lot more video these days and I wish Nikon came out with a product that I could have been enthusiastic about. Nikon really blew it!

I'd like to be optimistic regarding the iteration improvements that appear to have been made on the D500, but based on the specs that I've read I really do believe Nikon missed the ball. No one should argue that the camera market has segmented into three strata. Allow me to oversimplify the product catalog for a moment. (1) Point and shoot - mobile phone; (2) Enthusiast - those targeted by the want to be semi-pro products like the Nikon 3000 & 5000 series; (3) Semi\Pro market: people who have a significant investment in lenses and lighting systems. That 3rd market segment has watched the photography business merge with video content distribution, and while you can get decent video from Nikon Cameras (I own D7100, D610 and D800 along with a Sony a7s), they do not provide a tremendous value-ad to the working man who needs pro quality video. Things like multi-axis stabilization, video oriented menu items would have been helpful..

Do D750 able to mount new Nikon wireless flash system ?This different also means nothing to you ?

Well, I live with the best flash I can get in the world,For you with lots of experience knlw exactly the flash brand that I am using, Nikon new flash wireless system, I had to admit is brilliant compare to Canon, even though I don't know cooling system inside SB5000 means, that statement already kills 600EX-RT, plus you get free hotshoe slots when you mount this system on D500 and D5

I fail to see how gbvalli was lying. He is right on the money. If you don't ' need the action capabilities of the D500 the D750 is the better choice for the money for most people. Heck if you don't' shoot sports, BIF,wildlife, ect even saving some money and getting a D7200 is a better choice. The D500 is a pro DX sports cam. If you don't' need that buying one doesn't make any sense considering the other options in the Nikon lineup. The point isn't' what is the best camera it's what is the best camera for what YOU use it for.

As far as flash goes there is nothing wrong with SB-800s, SB-900s, SB-910s ect. and you can get third party radio triggers. If you buy a used SB-800/SB-900/SB-910 and ttl radio trigger set you will still be below or at the cost of a new SB-5000 and Nikon transmitter depending on the flash and triggers you buy. Buying an action camera when you don't' need one just for compatibility with Nikon's radio flash system is foolish.

I live in NY and go to B&H about once a month and have played with just about every camera. If any one has ever shot with a d4, d1x, 7dm2 they truly appreciate just how responsive and crisp accurate focus speed of a Bad ass dslr... Welcome D500 to the list of BAD ASS dslr.. we will meet soon...

The problem it solves is it is a pro level action camera below the D5 price point and size and is a pro DX body for those who want/need one. I mean it's really not that hard to figure out. IF you need high fps, state of the art AF tracking & metering, a decent sized buffer, the best controls possible, and a durable body, in other words a pro level sports camera, it's your only option other than a big, and much more expensive single digit body. It is the pro sports camera for those who can't afford or don't want to lug around a D5 or who prefer DX for such things. It's niche is well defined and easy to see.

3 years ago I would have bought the D500 in a heartbeat. That was the time when I really needed an APSC kick @rse camera. It didn't come and I left Nikon altogether amongst other reasons. Things have changed since then and I have established workable alternatives. The D500 looks like a big heavy 'klotz' of a camera with good specs. I don't feel tempted to go back there at all despite having still quite a few Nikon lenses lying around somewhere.

If I understand it correctly, the lack of built-in flash (which I never really use anyway as an event and weddings photographer) is also to make space for the D5-style metering and focusing modules that are quite large.

Yeah the pop up flash is great for a quick fill if you don't' have a speed light with you or as a commander but it is really a stop gap for people building a kit. Something that is only used until they have a speed light or two and a couple radio triggers. After that it ends up almost never being used, especially on a camera at this price point. Not having it on a body like this is not a big deal for most.

Virtually identical, within millimetres, to the D300, D700, and a whole bunch more. You won't feel like it's too big. If anything you will probably get the battery base to give it better balance with a lens like the 70-200 on it.

Well, I'd buy one (rather than the competition) simply because it's going to work with all my Nikon glass. I've been waiting for years for a D300/S replacement. No camera is going to have EVERYTHING I want, but this one has everything I need and a few of the extra wants.

It wasn't very long ago that I was satisfied with 6MP. Using 4K, I'd basically have the same resolution at 30 fps for a 3-minute buffer AND in-camera stabilization with all lenses. When I look at it that way, this camera is a HUGE improvement. Wait for a D510 if you want, but you'll miss two or three years of excellent shooting in the meantime.

Another feature Nikon added to the camera (which we really want to test when we get hold of a production sample) is 'Auto AF Fine-Tune.' It's designed to use the live-view image on the sensor to auto calibrate the phase detect autofocus system for any particular lens. We've been looking forward to this type of feature for years since in theory should greatly ease the process of micro-adjusting lenses.

Interestingly, the Nikon D500 has just been released, but in several important specifications it is surpassed by the Sony A77 II, which was launched nearly two years ago. For example:A77II x D500----------------1) 12fps x 10fps2) 24MP x 21MP3) Fully x Partially articulated LCD 4) Yes x No built-in flash5) 640g x 860g6) $1199 x $1997

Before someone raises the issues of build quality and reliability, remember that both cameras have magnesium bodies and are weather-sealed. There are no reports about serious problems of reliability for the A77II and nobody knows about the D500 reliability yet.

I think if you can't see the big differences, or don't think they are important, then you will be extremely happy with the A77ii or something like a D7200 or Pentax K3ii.

For some people a 200 shot vs 20 shot buffer is part of a package that is well worth $1000 more. For those people this camera will be great. If that doesn't make sense to you don't sweat it, shooting friends and landscapes doesn't need 200 continuous shots so enjoy the extra lens you can afford.

But some people really do need those small (or big, for them) differences. The fact that you quoted fps without mentioning the buffer depth kinda says it all (not supposed to sound patronising).

I've been using a mirrorless with EVF as well as my Nikons on movie sets (I'm a stills photog) and however much I love the quietness and compactness of the mirrorless the fact remains that there is no match yet for the clarity and speed of shooting with an OVF like the Nikon. It may one day get there but I'm still a buyer until it does. I am particularly pleased that the D500 is down around the 20 mpix range, which means that the glass will keep up with it. Been a problem with the D800/810. Smart decision.

I have made that same argument with several of my pro photographer freinds.. Many have said there high end clients would laugh them out the door if they went to a job with a sony camera unless it was for video.. The a7 series is slowly changing that steriotype. ...one more factor is real pros have about 5,000 -10,000 invested in lenses so it's hard to change there whole system for just a few minor benifit of a sony...I think the a77m2 is a steal at its price point. ..

Aroart: that's the main problem. Bias and investment. The latter makes more sense, since unless there is a real breaktrough by another company, then you can go and use your lenses even on an inferior camera. The former is very human, and it's the attitude that destroyed NX system by Samsung.

I have had the A77II for about 18 months and every time I try a new mid-range Canon or Nikon they feel really antiquated. The D500 looks like it is coming close to the A77ii a couple years late but I use the Sony SLT combo phase detect / intelligent focus tracking a lot so I still don't see any other camera that can do that.I find it hilarious to see people use the "my client would laugh at me if I used X equipment" whenever it suits their needs. And then other times they use the "purists don't care about name brands, its only about the image". Ha ha ha, what a bunch of pompous trolls. I have my Minolta 80-200 HS lens attached and people can laugh at me all they want. I don't care. I know I have the fastest focusing and shooting system and that is all that matters to me.

Vitruvius, you use AF as an example of something you love about the A77II, but neutral reviews (too many of them to point at bias) almost universally agree that Sony's AF is behind Nikon. Nikon's 3D tracking, which is exactly the sort of feature that will sell this body to professionals, is often praised as leading the industry.

If the Sony's tracking is great for you then good for you, but you are going against the grain of fairly established gospel.

To make a flawed analogy: the Mercedes ML has far more bells and whistles than a Land Rover Defender, almost every component is decades newer. It is far more comfortable and it has things like in-built WiFi. Yet armies and farmers don't buy Mercedes MLs, they buy the Land Rover Defender, though it has a similar price and no fancy electronics. It does a few things these professionals need, and it does them better than anything else. Nikon D500 go figure. Perceived modernity isn't everything when you're using something to do a job.

I hope not an ominous analogy. Vale the Defender, as of 2016. Not because it wasn't good, but because it wasn't modern enough (safety rules). I hope Nikon keeps up with the times better. I shoot Nikon and I drive a Defender. I'm hoping they both can still supply parts and accessories!

I really like the new tech like snap bridge and tilting touch screen. I would use that a lot. The new meter would do more for me than the AF system. Highlight weighting could be really helpful since pulling shadows is not a problem anymore. Face detect also wins the day for auto AF selection.Still enjoying the upgrade from a D90 to a D7200 so a lot of the features the D500 brings are nice but...I am comfortable with the mode dial control layout but why not have the U1 U2 avalible on the Pro configuration.10 Fps is really only 30% faster than the 7200.No built in flash and you have add a gadget to get wireless flash so much for adding new tech. Nikon is addicted to accessories.Is it really a pro body since it has as much metal as the 7200?My iPhone shoots 4k without a crazy crop why can't Nikon do this too?The bitter clingers will be happy to upgrade their D300's as for me I'm good for now.

I agree. Nikon should add fully recallable U1/2/3 modes to their pro cameras. They can keep the banks, if they want, but they're just not as usable as the user modes.

Pop-up flashes are nearly useless. I think I've used mine once in the last 3 years, and even then I could have done without it.

It's far better weather sealed than the D7200 and has a fully professional control layout, so, yes, it really is a pro body.

Your iPhone has a sensor smaller than your pinky's nail, too, and is far noisier in every light while shooting video or stills.

For the D500 to have full Bayer array on full frame width 4k video, it would need to have ~34Mp. With its 20Mp sensor, it would have to do some sort of downsampling and interpolating to output 4k. This would be extremely processor intensive, which gives you your answer as to why they don't do it. Even the GH4 crops its 4k video, but you don't hear the anyone crying foul over that one.

Lol none of that is confidential, it's regurgitated information from the press release and canned marketing responses. Most of the questions even look like Nikon wrote them. Notice how no information that people actually want to know was divulged due to "confidentiality"?

@brownie314nevermind - tecnoworld always came with the NX1 comparsion, and even the NX1 is/was good, it simply -can't- compete with the D500, and the NX1 RAW buffer with 22 frames compared to 200 frames onto the D500 is a joke, also with HighISO, the NX1 does get fast noisy. Also only 2 (!) S-Class lenses are nothing, and finally the NX System is dead by Samsung, wouldn't invest a penny anymore into it.

it's a way good DSLM, but sadly Samsung left their Userbase let alone into the Dust with no support, new developments anyway. :-/ I think most bugs are fixed with FW 1.4 now. But Samsung doesn't develop it further - as the whole NX System, too.

So, we're back to the "true D700 replacement" thing again. Because that's what a D5 sensor in a D500-like body would be. A D3 sensor in a D300-like body, AKA a D700.

Considering the specific design differences between the D7200, D750, D610, D810, and now this D500, I do think it is possible that a "D700 replacement" is coming. The D750, while amazing, could definitely benefit from the hybrid body styling of the D500, (D810 style, but with articulated LCD and giant prism) ...plus of course the new AF system and the ~10 FPS.

I'd pay $3K for that. Probably see it at $3500 though, considering how it would be "superior" to the D810 in almost every way except resolution and (maybe) dynamic range.

I think that when D700's cannibalised sales of their D3's in 2008 Nikon probably decided they would not be repeating the same mistake twice so I can't see them releasing a 'true' D700 replacement.

The D750 caters for the serious enthusiast segment quite nicely with brilliant AF and noise performance. I can't see them releasing a new camera that's 95% what a D5 is just to appeal to people who are too cheap to pony up for a D5 :D

'Auto AF Fine-Tune.' It's designed to use the live-view image on the sensor to auto calibrate the phase detect autofocus system for any particular lens....I have been proposing this for some time, but nobody listened to me:DOr maybe Nikon. Thanks guys!

Choosing between a D750 and D500 will come to many peoples minds including mine. I would love to see just how good the low light low noise performance of D500 is. These 2 cameras bodies are close in cost. With kit lenses, there are always going to be lens combo sales ie. lower cost with certain lenses. D500 can be matched with other lenses not just new 16-80mm. The body of the D500 is first class technology for apsc, while D750 wiith great sensor has many differences in body features.

I thought the same thing, until I read through all the specs and started to digest what this new camera really is. There should not be many who fingernail bite over the choice between the D500 and D750. If you need all the capabilities of the D500, then the D750 won't do. If you need the highest IQ and more dof control and don't worry so much about super AF systems and weather proofing - then the D750 might be a better choice.

It's really not the hard to figure out. If you need an action cam get the D500 or D5 if you an afford it. If you don't than get the D750 or D800/D810 if you can afford it. It's not about which camera is better it's about which one fits your needs the best.

for most things, the d750 is better (wedding, indoor events, studio etc). But there is a niche outdoor sport and bird photographers that need the fps and reach, plus a some aps-c shooters. They know who they are. I use the d750 for sport and action because the AF system is was one of the best in nikon lineup before this bigger spread here. I shot a cyclist parade with the d750 got like 800-900 shots, my friend with the mirrorless em-1 got like 250 photos uploaded to flickr. Photos in my flickr gallery. One system can lock on af much better then the other in real world situation. I would image the d500 getting more hits with the bigger spread and corsshair type but that wouldn't be much more then the already good d750 af.

The proof will definitely be in the "pudding" of the D500's high ISO performance. At "only" 20 MP and being a brand-new sensor, it stands a pretty good chance at approaching full-frame's 24-36 MP high ISO performance, at least at the ISO's that most of us mere mortals shoot at, such as ISO 3200 or so.

And personally, that's really all I need to get my jobs done. A clean ISO 3200. Even after all these years as a wedding photographer, going from the D700 to the D800 to the D750, (and trying pretty much every other one in between, including the D600 and Df) ...I still "stop" at 3200 when shooting weddings and events, and only rarely turn to 6400 in a serious pinch.

So, TLDR; if the D500 can deliver clean 3200, and since I'm not a bokeh whore like some hipsters are, ...I'd consider the D500 to be superior to the D750 in quite a few ways for what I do, personally, and I'd also recommend it quite a lot to others.

I agree. It all depends on individual needs , preferences and what you can afford or are willing to spend. I just recently upgraded from a D90 to a new D7100 and new D5300(back up) , I feel that this combination fits my style of photography and is more than enough to keep me occupied for a long time. The D500 is a great camera in function and construction and looks but not everyone should feel the pressure to buy one.

You're right, it just depends all about onto your personal preferences, that means shooting style, amount of money one would like to spent for gear, one's needs in terms of lens speed, reach (focal length) etc.

I'm still fine with my D90/D7000 DSLR in terms of DX Format.

For my taste, i wouldn't go nowadays in DX under D7x00 series, because of 2 mode dials, bright 100% view pentaprism OVF, top LCD display, and many more features, i've find the D3x00 & D5x00 with their one dial, dim, way small pentamirror OVF & from other features too limiting for my needs.

D500 is superior in a lot of features in new tech and video (4K), over even a D750, in most areas, except the low light IQ of D750. That said, D750 still has great video with Full HD (no 4K but not everyone needs 4K for what they do), also has tilt screen, relatively good build quality but D500 is better.Pro AF system of D750 is great for most needs for event photography, however D500 will be even much better with more focus points, and D500 has a few new features for video people worth noting. D500 can certainly be used for professional work, and likely give very detailed images probably up to 3200 iso before some loss of image quality at higher iso levels over 3200iso, if comparing to D7200 gives us an idea to start, of what a better IQ D500 could be with its new changes on specs. Won't know for sure how much IQ, until images and tests are available, but looks promising so far.

I thought the top LCD panel on the D750 is small size to read settings. Having a wider top area makes reading settings a breeze again like D810. D750 too small for my taste. Bit larger like D500 balances long lenses better which is in the target users for sports and wildlife.

Bit less weight than D300s is good. I think I read body was a little smaller than D810 also. ... and with all the great button controls on exterior in good positions (like ISO), better for ease of use over the double function buttons of D7200 layout.

It doesn't cost 10x more than a D7200/70D, or even a D3300/SL1. Are you comparing it to a point and shoot? If so, why? A point and shoot doesn't have a hope of capturing the images this camera can, let alone allow the photographer to do it with minimal effort and maximum selection.

I don't need a test. People have dropped pro Nikon and Canon bodies many times without a problem. Check the forums.

I'm curious to see which score this camera will get on DPR. If more than Samsung NX1, then I won't read this site anymore, since NX1 has been out for more than one year and every spec is better than D500.

tbolt: I beg to disagree. Please let me know which spec is better on D500. And...how could D500 be better. Thanks. Please don't talk about lenses or ecosystem, just camera, which is the subject of a review.

We could start with the viewfinder. As DPR found with the NX1, "you're not going to mistake the EVF for a true optical viewfinder".

It will be interesting to see also how well the D500 autofocus works - high hopes have been set.

For me these two things are what I look for above all else. Not that the rest is unimportant, more that most cameras do OK already on the other major aspects.

But seeing the image in the scene is paramount for me, without that there is no photo to take anyway, and so for me the immediacy of a really good OVF is a must (and one that it has taken the DSLR industry a terribly long time to approach).

Just as important, getting the critical moment in critical focus. For the want of than most of my shots are sub-par.

Given you are already deeply invested into a Samsung mirrorless setup this camera or its DPR rating as a DSLR is of little relevance to you. You have highly rated excellent equipment and should use it proudly. For those of us similarly invested into Nikon system or those interested in an additional body from a company which is likely to still be producing high end cameras next year the D500 is appealing and exciting.

brownie: yes, and this has very little to do with how good the two products are.

Photomedium, actually, that has very little impact on me. I'm not going to buy 10 new bodies in the future. I have the best apsc camera on the market and that will probably still be for other 3 years. After that I'll take my decisions about a new system.

Wets: of course it depends. I had many pentax cameras before going samsung and I'll never go back to OVF. Never.

Hikerdoc: I agree with you. My post was about how fair a review will be of a product which, compared to the one year older NX1, seems definitely older tech. Of course not even talking about video, which in D500 is about on par with NX500 (which costs 500$).

Technoworld - I am not saying the nx1 is bad in any way. Every account I have read says it is spectacular. Just saying, the reality of the camera world is that cameras are not stand alone devices. They go with lenses, flashes, remotes, lots if stuff. So, it it hard to view the nx1 and the D500 in the same light. One has a much larger impact on the photography world than the other. That being said, I can't wait for the fire sales on the nx1. I might pick one up.

Tr: well, dpr reviews are about bodies, first of all. Then there are the reviews about lenses and other items.

That said, I don't know many apsc shooters with kenses costing 3k or more. And samsung has all the lenses needed by the average shooters and even average pro shooters.

If you need 300mm or longer fl with aperture of f2.8, then nx1 is not for you. Otherwise it's covered pretty well.

My post was about fairness. If a camera comes out which is better than nx1, I'm the first to admit it. Actualy, I'd be happy about that since I'll know which brand to go in 3-5 years, when nx1 does not satisfies me anymore.

The fact is that many are applauding at Nikon for this d500, but most of them never applauded at samsung for nx1 even if it's better and has been around for much longer. Pity.

tecno Why are you so sour about it? Applause come from loyal customer base and brand recognition. Samsung has neither.No doubt in my mind the super refined D500 is a better body than the NX1 for wildlife and sports AND it has the tele primes for the job. For videos and as an all-rounder the NX1 wins. At this point I am just curious about the sensor ISO and DR. How good can the iso be on ASPC without even going BSI.

@technoworld, the AF (mainly AF tracking), buffer size are better specs on the D500, but the big one is the viewfinder - EVF's are still not good for action work. As for the image quality, we will have to wait and see. But like I said there's a lot more to a good camera than specs, I'm not saying the NX-1 isn't a good camera but if you think the NX-1 is going to be better than the D500 for action work, then I think you need to try the D500 when it comes out.

I, too, find the bitterness a bit off-putting. Is it not possible that the D500, with all Nikon's ergonomic expertise over the years, and with the wealth of experience of trial (and notable errors, I'll grant), just might have produced a camera that performs at a higher level than the sum of its parts? The NX viewfinder aside, the ergonomics of that camera, particularly the Nikon-esque cluster of controls on the left side, did not work as well as Nikon's: hard to differentiate by touch, for one thing. I'm still shooting with an old D300 and 7100, and was amazed at the job Samsung did with the NX-1, but it's exceedingly unlikely that, ergonomics aside, Nikon hasn't surpassed it in a few ways that might warrant a higher score.

Nx1 spec wise was impressive. Samsung put all their eggs (camera dept) in this one. I did play with other nx cameras at best buy they seem like nex cameras, not too special. Honesty if i was dpreview i would dock some points off the nx1 for being pull from the market too soon. A review rating sould include all factors and longevity is one.

My NX100 is hardly useable >ISO800, passed it to my gf.At least, that 2010 pocket DSLM does have performance comparable to my old 2004 EOS 20D, but not the same per pixel-sharpness. ;) DR is better onto the almost 11y old 20D.

I would have been helpful to have the instant access pre-set configurations ( U1,U2) dial from the prosumer cameras included this pro-camera. That's a great, efficiency and handling enhancing feature that Nikon could have migrated upwards into the pro line.

I'm not concerned about the lack of separate AE-Lock and AF-Lock buttons, given the many programmable Fn buttons on the D500.

Lastly, the one feature that no DX camera has really overcome (its inherent to the design) is the somewhat low viewfinder magnification compared to FX. At 0.7x (true magnification at DX normal focal length, not 50mm) it still needs to be augmented by a slip-on auxiliary viewfinder magnifier.

The return of the prism SLR, maybe Nikon's diehard attitude in their philosophy towards 'traditional' camera design may proven to be successful at the end of the day. I'm a user of both prism and mirror less camera and at one point I thought the days were numbered for the traditional mirror cameras for quite a few years. But in numbers occasions, there is still a place for traditional mirror SLR's because the battery life is by far superior, wake up time is instant and certainly faster in operation when speed is needed. Who knows, I'm definitely to keep all the full frame lenses as now I feel I wanted to use a traditional camera again over the mirror less.

Such a fabulous new year gift to the shooters of sport and wild life or anything moving fast... however personally I still prefer most of the buttons to be reached by my right hand fingers... just dreaming.

It looks like a great camera and I have no doubt it is a fantastic camera. But I don't understand all the hype about it. This isn't the only modern high end APS-C camera. Pentax has the K-3II for some time now and had before always a current line high end APS-C camera's.

So the Nikon users are overwhelmed by this new high end APS-C because Nikon's last high end APS-C the D300s was already 7 years old. Why would someone be attracted to this kind of strategy? Apparently Nikon is not reliable as a company for high end APS-C users.

No Nikon were building their FF body line of cameras 610, 750, 810 and a few models before. I imagine they thought D7100 and D7200 were enough, but were actually working on a D500 for awhile before releasing, as there are many significant new improved features created from development. Pros and serious enthusiasts were looking for a pro body lighter camera as second or main camera for sports and wildlife and video, so Nikon made one and finally released it after the long wait. Lots of photographers already own Nikon glass DX or FX which both works on this new body. Better than switching systems and glass. Makes sense.

The kit lens is the newly launched 16-80 f2.8-4 E; the replacement to the 16-80 f/3.5-5.6 G, which itself was >$1000 at launch. It's not some 18-55 slow kit zoom crowding the shelves at used camera shops.

I would wait for the D510 after they fixed whatever problem they might have with the D500 like the D600/D610 and D800/D810. Just my thought. Also wondering how loud is the D5 and D500 shutter and mirror slap.

The Problem is, that old DX 17-55/2.8 screams "Pro lens" for real, but the 16-80/2.8-4 is not..it does have fancy nano coating, and the "goldring" status, equal to Nikons pro level lenses, but the build quality isn't simply up there, and the IQ from the reviews i've seen so far is nothing to rave about, either way. It's good, but the tenor is, this lens should usually go for 40-50% price less then the current asking price.

I haven't seen any credible reviews on the new 16-80 yet. There was one European review that was negative, but very suspect. The conclusions and comments were directly contradicting the sample photos, tests and article text. It read like they had concluded what to say before a single photo was taken. Frankly, I doubt they ever tested it, as it came out a week or so after the launch.

Thom Hogan has said it is a very good lens, but hasn't published his review yet. Others have written glowing reviews, but without tests and numbers. I'm waiting for some more credible tests and comparisons to Sigma's 17-70 C before I believe cries it should be priced the same.

The Sigma 17-70 C....at least my Copy does have had mushy corners, by F/4 and bigger. Quite happy with the Tamron 17-50/2.8 (no AF Drive, no VC) IQ is very good for that lens. (A16N) and for my taste fast onto the D7000 with built-in screwdrive, and not that ugly krrrrr-krrrrr sound, this lens does on all other APS-C systems.

The Sigma 17-70 C is priced around 50% of the new Nikon 16-80 - the exact price Mr. Petzold said the Nikon should be - which is why I referred to it. Everybody says the Nikon is overpriced, yet I have yet to read anywhere that the Sigma is a better lens. And I own the Sigma and think it is a great walkaround lens. It rarely comes off my D7000. I'm rather curious why there are so few reviews and comparisons of this lens. Maybe it isn't as important as I imagine it to be.

The 17-50/2.8 A16N is 85% on my D7000 all the time, it comes only off in exchange for the 35/1.8 DX AF-S lens. Way speedy AF, being happy with the Tamron. If the 16-80 E VR 2.8-4 would only be about 100 bucks more than the 16-85 DX, i'd consider it....but not for around 1050-1099 EUR into germany - that's really insane for a plastic bodied-lens.

I`m really getting bored with the apsc/full frame debate. Both sensor types are capable of stunning images, full frame is great at the wider end, crop sensors have better reach. And no i'm not saying that you can't take decent wide shots with a dx sensor or that full frame isn't useful for sports. Both have their place and uses.

Exactly. And the D500 does have the D5 AF System, a very advanced FX AF System. OTOH, the D6x0 Series does feature the DX D7000 AF System, which is way bad onto these i'd say "beginner" FX Bodies. If FX, i'd go the 2nd Hand D700 or D750 Route, but i wouldn't bother with a D6x0 DSLR, the AF System is pretty sub-standard here, but on the D7000, for which it was being introduced into 2010, it suits the D7000 well.

The placement of the ISO button on the bottom left back corner is my single least favorite thing about my D600. I didn't know you could remap the record button to ISO though, I'll have to dig into that.

Having ISO top right next to the EV on the top plate is much better, though I would have accepted having it on the crown, top left, as per the D300.

I went by the Nikon CES display this morning and asked about the dynamic range on this camera and the new D5 model. The company rep said that Nikon does not publish this information. I asked how the DR with the D810 model. He became defensive, claiming that he had no idea how to three cameras compared but the new models "were good enough to take very nice photos." My final question was, "do they use one of new Sony sensors or something else." He again claimed that he had "no idea." So, I am looking for the DxO test results on these camera's sensors.

All current cameras output enough DR for all types of photo-styles. But there's more important features in a camera, like how fast you need your camera to be in terms of frame rate, fast and precise AF, AF points... I don't understand the need of so much DR.. Well if you really need it you can always HDR it, manually or auto by you preference...

The company rep said "the new models were good enough to take very nice photos.".... Are you sure it wasn't the cleaner?

Having said that, my wife managed to insert the sim card into the micro SD slot in her new phone and rushed off to the shop for help where an assistant said nothing could be done and advised her to contact Sony.I came home and used a needle to tease out the sim card and amazingly the phone and micro SD card all work.... Phew!!

Of course this is the same lovely woman who jammed a CF card the wrong way into my Canon PowerShot A95 bending all the pins. DOOOH!

Rodneytoo, most Nikon reps don't seem to know anything. If you really want to "get them going", mention Thom Hogans name. From a big picture point of view, Thom seems to know more about what is going on at Nikon than all the reps combined.

@Francisthat's exactly why CF cards are phasing out of "Consumer" DSLR bodies - because there is always someone, which jams the card reverse into the slot, and then the PINs are bent...and the Camera unuseable...can't happen with a SD Card, but i must say i've had lost these tiny SD cards rarely, never happened with a CF yet to date.

they will not update with ' all these features ' because you will have to get a D5 or pay very close cash to it, maybe whenever that will happen, the D500 of that time (D505? 5th iteration) will still get far away specs above middle-low level FX bodies.

The D810 upgrade might get a few of these features, maybe 4K, because competition - Canon, might start offering it in their FF pro end (Sony already does in A7Rii). The D750 upgrade maybe 4K, but it has the consumer button control layout of D7200 and less rugged body and price to match compared to higher D810 price. D750 is body is better than D610 however. To keep selling D500 and D5 many best features will stay with these 2 cameras at their price point at the current time.

I dont understand when I see this. I see similar comments all the time. DSLRs are obsolete an sheesh. They're dead. I have a DSLR, a fairly 'introductory' one, but I love it. Best camera I've ever used, and I can't wait to upgrade to full frame next; from my Canon t3i (Which, I gotta think, was one of their most popular cameras). Amen to dslrs, we just need faster lenses!!

Question DPReview....Has Nikon finally incorporated a Real Time Exposure Simulation done via Live View? It's available even on enthusiast point and shoots. Nikon, for some unknown reason, made a silly implementation of this on past Nikon bodies like the D800 series where the exposure preview in live view was "off by a couple of stops" when fiddling with the shutter speed or using filters --- it wasn't the exposure you'll be getting post capture.

@Rishi, I think that @OliverGlass means by "real time exposure simulation" is where, when you're taking a long exposure star light, night photograph, the camera gives you a real time visual indication of what the photo looks like with the amount of exposure so far, so that you're not guessing, but can wait until the real-time indication reaches the correct exposure. I forget which camera has that - I think it's one of the Olympus mirrorless OMs?

Yes, from the OM-D E-M5. And it's a joy to use for things like light painting! In standard shooting, of course, one expects that the camera will show you what exposure and depth of field you will get when you actually take the picture. I wouldn't buy a camera that doesn't do that.

Hi Rishi and DPR. I'm still a Nikon user by the way. I still have my D90 and still going strong.

The Real Time Exposure preview in Live View was a feature Nikon shooters and landscape shooters have been requesting Nikon for years. As you fiddle with the Shutter Speed and Aperture, past Nikon bodies used to give an inaccurate preview. It was usually off by a couple of stops when you put filters on the camera, stopped down and adjusted for long exposure. I was just merely asking if this has been finally sorted out on the newer bodies like the d500 for example. The feature was pretty inaccurate in the D90 to D800 --- I dunno with the D810 body and above.

Some Nikon cameras still don't show the proper exposure preview in Live View, yes. Like the D7200. The higher end cameras do though (D810, D750, etc.), so I'd imagine the D5/500 to as well.

It's weird though - I don't know why every Nikon DSLR doesn't have the ability to show real-time exposure preview. With really heavy ND filters (e.g. 10 stop) on there, the preview might not be accurate though, as the camera does hit a limit for how much it can brighten the image.

After studying the specs of the D500 and its top features, I quickly realised that although the idea of having the best AF module in photography at the moment is a very tempting idea, I really don't have the need for it since I'm not a sports photographer. I have nothing I can complain about with the AF performance I'm getting out of something like the cheap & cheerful a6000 or the blasingly fast GX8/EM1. They are all kind of amazing already for my documentary/street photography need. 200-shots RAW buffer sounds amazing, but I rarely push my cameras to their top-speed for long either. I guess the only reason for me to entertain getting the D500 (apart from the desire to own such a beast of a camera) is its so-called pro-grade environmental sealing and toughness. It seems like a reasonably "affordable" alternative to the D5 for photography assignments in tough conditions - the ultimate tool for freelance photo journalists on a budget.

It's pretty insane. Would love to see how it works in real life. One thing that I absolutely cannot stand with the a6000 is how long it takes for it to clear its buffer. But then again, I can't imagine a situation where I'd need to hold down my shutter at 10fps for 20 seconds. But 1-3 seconds bursts with 1-3 second intervals between each burst for a few minutes seems likely. Would love to know how the camera handles that.

The buffer is actually smaller, if I understand correctly. We'll test it as soon as we can.

AF performance is definitely not just for sports. For one, wedding photographers and photojournalistic-style shooters are likely to significantly benefit from the AF tracking promised by these cameras.

I just had a look at Nikon's Chinese language promo material (edit: which turns out to be a direct translation from the English material), it claims that the D500 has a 200-shot buffer for 14-bit lossless compressed RAW and JPEG.The language is rather ambiguous (is it 200-shot in either 14-bit RAW or JPEG, or simultaneously as in RAW+JPEG?). The statement does n't include further qualifier, so it'd be interesting to see how big the difference between the advertised buffer and the reality is, and how Nikon would respond to the difference should it be significant.

Hmm, we're a little confused now. Not sure what the 'buffer' is (the # of shots that can be taken at 10fps before the camera slows down the frame rate). I think we'll refrain from commenting until we actually test it at this point.

Forum member and moderator Horshack claims it does actually take 200 Raw shots before slowing down with the write memory card here.

I trust Horshack so I'm inclined to believe that Nikon's marketing is true.

A7rii owner here...this thing looks pretty awesome. If I had a need for better autofocus tracking I'd probably pick one of these up. I just don't do a lot of that type of shooting right now. I bet this thing is gonna be great though.

Not all mirrorless users are fanatics or feel the urge to defend their decision all the time. Same goes with DSLR owners. I love OVF. But I do admit that mirrorless has its advantages. We should just be happy that we are so spoiled with so many options. No need to put down the other.

For what it's worth. Too large, too heavy, too clumsy for smaller hands and Nikon has not understood the directions and trends as of today. EVF is one thing, light and small is another, but durable and wr, more so thsn indicated!

Not for me mate. One can complain about the D500 being too large or heavy. But one has to admit that (at least spec-wise) it delivers a performance that no smaller mirrorless camera can hope to match as of now. While I'm happy to go out with my mirrorless cameras for a shoot everyday, there are assignments where I'd prefer the D500. And for those assignments, I'd suck it up and carry a heavier kits.

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